GENERATOR 2.16 by Jason Mayo Introduction The Generator is an analogue 'style' 16-step sequencer, which uses an array of 16 faders to generate a series of midi values such as pitch or velocity. In practice this device can be used to create almost any rhythmic or cyclical pattern, such as drum patterns, LFO modulation, bass lines, arpeggios, auto-panning, gating fx or filter sweeps. How does it work ? Using just a single note on the 'Gen Trigger In' track/instrument in the arrangement, the Generator is triggered to produce a further series of events using various delay lines. These events are then processed through transformer objects to get the desired midi messages. Whats New ? -Compatible with Peavey PC1600 midi controller -Improved Control Mode note Off management -Park position in gearbox The Controls: (Generator layer) 16 Fader Array. These 16 faders are used to set the individual midi values for each step of the sequencer, faders set to zero will be ignored (rests). 16 Chase LEDs. These buttons light up in sequence to show you the scanning speed and direction of play. Generator Mode. -Velocity. The Generator produces notes of a fixed pitch whose velocity is modulated by the fader array. -Pitch. The Generator produces notes of a fixed velocity whose pitch is modulated by the fader array. -Control. The Generator produces control messages of a fixed parameter and channel with the fader array producing different values. Extra controls are provided for this mode. Gearbox The gearbox selects different scan speeds and directions. -16ths.Fast. -8ths. Medium. -4ths. Slow -4 bar break. Scans the first 8 faders 3 times followed by faders 9-16 once. -Fwd & Reverse. Scans faders 1-16 forwards and then backwards from 16-1. -Park. This swithes off the Generator. Note: sometimes there may be a delay (up to 4 bars) before a new gear is engaged. 4 Fader Groups ( 4 little blue faders). These faders are linked to each sub-division of the 4 beats, making fast and rhythmic editing possible. E.g. if you want to edit all the off beats simultaneously, use one of these sliders first. Twist. Used in conjunction with the 4 Fader groups, with Twist enabled, alternate beats will have their values reversed. Link Faders. When using an external fader controller such as the Peavey PC1600, this button has a similar effect to the 4 Fader Group controls, otherwise it does nothing. Diatonic Scale. This is used in Pitch mode to produce a more musical note output. Fixed Value: pitch/vel/control. This slider sets the fixed value of events not affected by the fader array values, i.e. in velocity mode it controls pitch (see Vel.Mode pitch), in pitch mode it controls velocity and in control mode it sets the value of note-offs (see Control Offs). Depth. This fader controls the overall range of the values that are produced. Gain. This fader increases the all the values by a set amount. Output Meter. This animated 'fader' gives the user an idea of the range of values being generated. Vel.Mode Pitch. (velocity mode only) -Fixed Value. The pitch of notes is set by the Fixed Value slider. -Generator. The pitch of notes is set by the fader array (like pitch mode). -Off/Ext. The pitch information is received from a track/instrument in the arrangement called 'Gen.Ext In'. Control Channel. Sets the midi channel of the control data, e.g. to control track 3 set to channel 3 and route to mixer playback track in the arrange page. Control Parameter. Sets the parameter you wish to modulate, e.g. volume/pan etc. Controls Offs -Ignore. The Generator sends out a control value for every 'note on' message but ignores the following 'note off' message. -Fixed Value. The Generator sends out an extra message for every note off command received, this is useful for gating sounds by sending out a zero volume message in between each step of the sequence, the length of the trigger note defines the gate time and can be adjusted in the 'Gate time %' control in the playback parameters box in the arrange page. Installing. The Generator should work as soon as you press play, but the main points to bear in mind are: 1. The Generator must have some sort of trigger sequence to power it, a single short note looping 4 bars (not 1 bar) in the arrange page. 2. The Generator output should be permanently cabled to the Sequencer input object and turned off and on when required by either muting/unmuting the trigger track or setting the Gearbox to Park. Used this way, the Generator will always be available to the midi thru instrument (the highlighted track in the arrange page) and will always be ready to be recorded. Here are some settings you may find useful: Drum programming. Set Generator mode to Velocity, Gearbox to 16ths or 4-bar Break, Vel.Mode Pitch to Fixed value, Depth to 127, Gain to 0, Diatonic off and use Fixed Value slider to select sound. Auto-Compose/Arpeggios. Set mode to Pitch, Diatonic on, Fixed value 90, Depth 50, Gain 30. Auto-panning. Set Mode to Control, Gearbox to Fwd.& Rev, Control Channel =midi channel/track number, Control Parameter to Pan, Control Offs Ignore, Gain 0, Depth 127, . Fast Gating. Set Mode to Control, Gearbox to 16ths , Control Channel =track number, Control Parameter to Volume, Control Offs to Fixed slider, Fixed slider to 0, Gain 0, Depth 127, and check that the Trigger gate length is about 120 ticks long. Peavey PC1600 users Using factory preset 1 (Volume/mute), connect your midi fader controller to an exclusive midi input on your interface (Separate from the Mother Keyboard). Go to the 'Input Switch' layer in the environment and make sure the physical input 'Sum' node is disconnected from the Sequencer input, instead making sure that the Mother Kyb'd and PC1600 are connected independently from the Physical inputs (M1-M8) to their respective objects in that layer i.e. Mother Keyb'd in (to Seq input) and PC1600 In (to Cable Switchers). The Controls: (Input Switch layer) PC1600 to -Mixer 1, Mixer 2 , Mixer 3. Connects PC1600 direct to any of 3 channel splitters for controlling sets of audio objects or mixers. -Seq. Input. Connects into the Sequencer input for recording of fader movements, all routing is then done with the midi thru track. -Generator. Connects direct to the Generator's 16 main faders. Control Type -Vol/Thru. This leaves the PC1600 midi unaffected. -Pan. This converts the volume data into Pan data. -Send 1,Send 2. These are preset values that currently correspond to Bus 1 and Bus 3 sends on a TDM system, the presets can be altered by changing the value in the respective transformer objects. -Other. As above but the value is altered by the pop-up menu below. Other. Use this pop-up menu to select a control value from 0-127.